Frankfurt rail shutdown begins April 4 for critical bridge upgrades

A major rail line in southern Frankfurt will shut down for over a month starting April 4, 2023. The closure, lasting until May 15, will disrupt services between Forsthaus and Südbahnhof stations while construction crews carry out essential upgrades. The shutdown will halt all RB58 night trains between Hanau Hauptbahnhof and Rüsselsheim Opelwerk. Daytime RB58 services will instead run via Frankfurt-Louisa. Meanwhile, the RE59 line connecting Frankfurt-Ost and Frankfurt Airport long-distance station will be cancelled entirely during the works.

At the heart of the project is the replacement of the railway bridge over Mörfelder Landstraße. Two temporary bridges will be installed to maintain train traffic until the end of 2027. Crews will remove sections of the embankment, drive new pilings, and use heavy-lift cranes to position the structures. Nearby, the grade-separation structure at Forsthaus will also undergo renovation. New pilings and temporary supports will be added, while work begins on the future abutments for the permanent bridge.

The six-week closure aims to modernise critical infrastructure along this busy corridor. Once complete, the temporary bridges will keep trains moving for years while the final bridge is constructed. Passengers on affected routes should plan for delays or alternative connections until mid-May.